With the IceHogs ending the year on an 0-5-1-0 slide, 2014 can't come soon enough, having dropped a 3-2 decision to the Charlotte Checkers in front of a BMO Harris Bank Center audience of 4,599.

Perhaps flipping the calendar page will help.

"Maybe," head coach Ted Dent said. "We've been playing decent the last two games. We can't get frustrated. We've got to stay positive and get through this."

Rockford led 1-0 on a goal by Brandon Pirri, who later suffered a lower-body injury and is day-to-day. The 'Hogs tied it at 2 on a Brad Winchester score 26 seconds into the third period on a carryover power play.

But Austin Levi's first goal of the season on a long wrister gave Charlotte the game-winner at 2:59 - and starting goalie Kent Simpson the rest of the game off.

"It's the same old thing. We let in at least three goals," Dent said. "Two point shots, whether they're deflected or he didn't see them, we need to stop them. We've let in at least three goals for nine straight games, and that's too many."

Charlotte's second tally, by Chris Terry on a power play, came from a point shot. The puck caromed off 'Hogs defender Theo Peckham.

"The puck hits me. I'm standing two feet wide of the net and it hits me in the chest and goes in," Peckham said. "When you're in a slump like this, those are the breaks that are going to happen."

On offense, Rockford launched 43 shots at goalie Anton Khudobin, making his second rehab start with the Checkers to get ready to return to the NHL's Carolina Hurricanes.

"We're getting shots," said Winchester, who collected his team-leading 10th goal of the season. "We have game plans and guys are executing them, and we're implementing things we've worked on in practice.

"We have to have confidence that we can build on those things and combine it with hard work to get out of this."

Rockford's problem with the Checkers has come on the penalty kill: Charlotte connected on 10-of-26 power plays after converting on its first effort Monday.

Rockford outshot Charlotte 43-40, giving the 'Hogs 124 shots in their past three games but only six goals.